The Clinton County Bulldogs improved to 10-5 on the year and remain perfect in district play with Friday night’s win over Metcalfe County, 78-39.

The game started off slow for the Dawgs with a tie score of 7-7 in the first two minutes of the game.

Lance Claywell made a three pointer to put the Dawgs up by three with 5:45 on the clock, but Metcalfe County cut the lead to one point on a field goal nearly two minutes later, 10-9.

Clinton County then scored five straight points to lead, 15-9 with two minutes remaining in the period.

The Hornets were taking advantage of the slow starting Bulldogs and were playing remarkably better than the 2-9 record they carried into The Castle. Clinton County led at the end of the first period, 17-13.

The Bulldogs opened up the second quarter with a 7-0 run and finally grabbed a double digit lead, 24-13.

Clinton County coasted for the remainder of the quarter and put up 24 points for a 41-25 lead at the half.

As the Dawgs were walking into the locker room at halftime, Head Coach Todd Messer was charged with a technical foul thus giving Metcalfe County two foul shots and the ball to start the second half. That seemed to be just the motivation the Dawgs needed, putting up 23 more points in the third quarter compared to Metcalfe’s 11, 64-36.

In the final period, the Dawgs added 14 points to its score while holding Metcalfe County to only three points in the final eight minutes of the game.

Clinton County used all of its bench during Friday night’s game with 10 of 13 players scoring for the Bulldogs.

Individual scoring for Clinton County was:

Dalton 20

Claywell 19

Langford 14

England 7

Means 5

Tallent 3

McWhoter 2

Choate 2

Brown 2

Nelson 2

Clinton County was back in action Tuesday night against Cumberland County, too late for press deadline, and will travel to Russell County Friday night to wrap up regular season district action.

The Dawgs will also begin the first round of the All “A” Classic Regional Tournament with first round games held at The Castle Monday, January 20 against Monroe County.

A complete girls’ and boys’ bracket can be found below.

Parker Means came off the bench Friday night to give the Dawgs a lift on offense as he made this basket in the second half. Means finished the game with five points.

Josh Tallent pulled up for a jumper in the lane during Friday night’s home win over Metcalfe County. The Dawgs move to 10-5 on the year. Tallent finished with three points.